Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: MAGNESIUM NITRATE Synonyms: Magnesium Dinitrate; Nitromagnesite CAS Number: 10377-60-3 Chemical Name: Nitric Acid, Magnesium Salt RTK Substance Number: 1143 Date: September 1999 Revision: August 2010 DOT Number: UN 1474 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Magnesium Nitrate is an odorless, colorless or white, Hazard Summary crystalline (sand-like) solid. It is used as a catalyst in making Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA petrochemicals and in pyrotechnics. HEALTH 2 - FLAMMABILITY 0 - REACTIVITY 1 - STRONG OXIDIZER POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe Reasons for Citation f Magnesium Nitrate can affect you when inhaled. f Magnesium Nitrate is on the Right to Know Hazardous f Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. Substance List because it is cited by DOT. f Inhaling Magnesium Nitrate can irritate the nose and throat. f High levels of this substance can reduce the blood’s ability to transport Oxygen, causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). f Prolonged exposure to Magnesium Nitrate can cause headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. f Magnesium Nitrate is not combustible, but it is a STRONG OXIDIZER that enhances the combustion of other substances. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. FIRST AID Workplace Exposure Limits Eye Contact No occupational exposure limits have been established for f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 Magnesium Nitrate. However, it may pose a health risk. minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact Always follow safe work practices. lenses, if worn, while rinsing. Skin Contact f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of water. Inhalation f Remove the person from exposure. f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. f Transfer promptly to a medical facility. EMERGENCY NUMBERS Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 MAGNESIUM NITRATE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Jersey Department of Health, Magnesium Nitrate has not Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. Other Effects f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New f Prolonged exposure to Magnesium Nitrate can cause headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting. Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet, available on the RTK website (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. Medical f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Medical Testing If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public following is recommended: Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the f Blood methemoglobin level federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you are a private worker. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most damage already done are not a substitute for controlling employers to label chemicals in the workplace and exposure. requires public employers to provide their employees with information concerning chemical hazards and controls. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide similar information and training to their employees. This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. Health Hazard Information Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Magnesium Nitrate: f Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. f Inhaling Magnesium Nitrate can irritate the nose and throat causing sore throat, coughing and wheezing. f High levels of this substance can reduce the blood’s ability to transport Oxygen, causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). Exposure to very high levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and even death. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Magnesium Nitrate and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Magnesium Nitrate has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. MAGNESIUM NITRATE Page 3 of 6 Workplace Controls and Practices Eye Protection Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or f Wear eye protection with side shields or goggles. sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less f Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust Respiratory Protection ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control should only be used if the employer has implemented a written exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on program that takes into account workplace conditions, workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory The following work practices are also recommended: Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Label process containers. f Where the potential exists for overexposure to Magnesium f Provide employees with hazard information and training. Nitrate, use a NIOSH approved negative pressure, air- f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. purifying, particulate filter respirator with an N, R or P95 f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed filter. More protection is provided by a full facepiece recommended exposure levels. respirator than by a half-mask respirator, and even greater f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. protection is provided by a powered-air purifying respirator. f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or material. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect f Always wash at the end of the workshift. Magnesium Nitrate, (2) while wearing particulate filters f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes abnormal resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye contaminated. irritation occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. f Do not take contaminated clothing home. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are good, you may need a new respirator. being handled, processed or stored. f Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace. f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges applying cosmetics or using the toilet. to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. In addition, the following may be useful or required: f Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece f Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an emergency escape air cylinder. Personal Protective Equipment The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR Fire Hazards 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard employees on how and when to use protective equipment. (29 CFR 1910.156). f Magnesium Nitrate is not combustible, but it is a STRONG The following recommendations are only guidelines and may OXIDIZER that enhances the combustion of other not apply to every situation. substances. f Flood with water. Gloves and Clothing f POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including f Avoid skin contact with Magnesium Nitrate. Wear personal Nitrogen Oxides and Magnesium Oxides. protective equipment made from material which can not be f Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. permeated or degraded by this substance. Safety f Magnesium Nitrate may ignite combustibles (wood, paper equipment suppliers and manufacturers can provide and oil). recommendations on the most protective glove and clothing f Magnesium Nitrate may be sensitive to impact when material for your operation. contaminated with Organic Material. f Safety equipment manufacturers recommend Nitrile and Natural Rubber for gloves, and Tyvek®, or the equivalent, as a protective clothing material.